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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Feb 1;149(2):258-269.
doi: 10.1093/jn/nxy259.

The Incidence of Obesity, Assessed as Adiposity, Is Reduced After 1 Year in Primary Schoolchildren by the POIBA Intervention

Carles Ariza  1   2   3 , Francesca Sánchez-Martínez  1   2   3   4 , Gemma Serral  1   2   3 , Sara Valmayor  1 , Olga Juárez  1 , María Isabel Pasarín  1   2   3   4 , Conxa Castell  5 , Luis Rajmil  6 , María José López  1   2   3   4 ; POIBA Project Evaluation Group
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Free article
Randomized Controlled Trial

The Incidence of Obesity, Assessed as Adiposity, Is Reduced After 1 Year in Primary Schoolchildren by the POIBA Intervention

Carles Ariza et al. J Nutr. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is becoming a serious problem, and prevention programs are needed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate, after 1 y, the effectiveness of a multicomponent, school-based obesity intervention program.

Methods: This intervention, conducted in Barcelona, Spain, was a quasi-experimental obesity primary prevention intervention targeting schoolchildren aged 9-10 y. Participants were assigned to an intervention group (IG) (1464 students) or to a comparison group (CG) (1609 students). The intervention consisted of a 9-session classroom program, 6 weekly sessions of physical education and out-of-school physical activity, and a workshop for families. It lasted from October 2011 to May 2012. Data obtained at baseline (spring 2011) and follow-up (spring 2012) included information on nutrition and physical activity, through 2 self-reported questionnaires, and measurement of weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, and waist circumference. The cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of obesity was calculated from triceps skinfold measures. A multilevel logistic regression model was fitted to determine the association between the intervention and the CIR of obesity. The effect size of the program was estimated with Cohen's criteria.

Results: The overall prevalence of obesity at baseline was 12.7%. At the 12-mo follow-up, the incidence of obesity was 7.8% in the IG compared with 11.4% in the CG (P < 0.005), representing 31% fewer new cases of obesity in the IG. The Cohen's d effect size of the program was 0.33. In the multilevel analysis, there was a protective effect of the intervention on the CIR of obesity at 12 mo (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5, 0.9) (P = 0.009).

Conclusions: The first Prevención de la Obesidad Infantil en Barcelona (Childhood Obesity Prevention in Barcelona) (POIBA) intervention, targeting children aged 9-10 y, reduced the incidence of obesity as measured by adiposity. The intervention could prevent 1 in 3 new cases of childhood obesity in this age range.

Keywords: adiposity; childhood prevention; effectiveness evaluation; healthy eating; physical activity; school-based program.

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